Aston Lukoye
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has called on the National Assembly to pass a law criminalizing match-fixing in the country. S
peaking to the National Assembly Committee for Sports and Culture, FKF President Nick Mwendwa highlighted the severity of match-fixing in football, stating that it ruins the authenticity of the game and drives fans away.
Punish match fixing
Mwendwa emphasized the need for urgent action to protect the game, saying, “We need to have people arrested and punished so we can end this vice. Today if we take a match-fixer to the police station, there is no law to charge these individuals. We are asking you to help us close this gap.”
The FKF revealed that match-fixing is mostly run by syndicates operating mostly out of Asia who approach players and match officials to manipulate games.
The Federation has already suspended 25 individuals, including seven match officials and eighteen players, involved in the vice. According to Mwendwa, match-fixing took root in Kenyan leagues between November 2021 and October 2022 when FKF was suspended, allowing match-fixers to take advantage of the lack of regulatory oversight.
Responding to the FKF’s appeal, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture and the Arts, Jonathan Mueke, stated that the Ministry was undertaking a comprehensive review of the National Sports Policy as a precursor to drafting legislation.
He said, “We want to do it right, we put in place the policy then draft legislation.” The Chair of the Sports Committee, Dan Wanyama, committed to delivering legislation that will criminalize match-fixing in Kenya, stating, “We have heard you, we will help put in place legislation to criminalize match fixing so that those who engage in this vice can be charged and arrested in a court of law.”
Significant step
The FKF’s appeal for a law to criminalize match-fixing in Kenya is a significant step in the fight against the vice. With the backing of the National Assembly and the government, the FKF can strengthen its efforts to tackle match-fixing, ensuring the integrity and authenticity of football matches in Kenya.
